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John smirked. “Watch me, mate.”

“Alright, everyone, go home and get some sleep.” Holt tugged Taylor into his side, wrapping his arm around his shoulders. “Let’s go and get in the hot tub, babe.”

“I want a hot tub,” Gabe grumbled.

“We’ll get a hot tub, baby.” Biff kissed the side of his horn.

As Holt and Taylor left the room and everyone started dispersing to get ready to go home, I walked over to the kitchen area to get some water, parched after my energetic match. I felt a presence beside me as I filled a glass at the sink, and I knew it was Vince. A secret smile tilted my mouth.

“Good job, your highness,” he murmured, shooting me a quick grin as he refilled his water bottle.

And as he turned to walk away, his fingers brushed over my hip in a hidden touch, meant just for me.

—

When I woke up on Friday morning, I had a text from him waiting.

I opened it as I wandered into the bathroom, skirting around Lady Potato, who was stretched out in a patch of sun on the hallway floor.

I was thinking on Monday, we could devastate Horny Incubus Creep by not going to the motel. Maybe I could come to your place instead.

A bout of nerves filled my belly at the thought of Vince coming here. When I’d first moved to this world, I hadn’t been all that sensible about my spending. I’d sold the jewels I’d brought with me for a very large amount of cash, which had let me buy my house and a nice car that I hadn’t even been able to drive at the time.

Of course, after filling the house with everything I needed, I’d been left with very little. Fortunately I’d already had my job at Goliaths—securing that had been the catalyst for me finally plucking up the courage to flee Otherworld and make a life for myself—but I’d had to quickly teach myself how to manage my money.

Suddenly, I’d had bills to pay. Every single month. I’d had to work out a food budget to make sure I didn’t overspend. I’d spent many, many months paying for driving lessons, because I had taken much longer to learn than I suspected most other people did.

We were paid very well at Goliaths, but I’d never had to worry about any of those things before. I’d simply… had what I wanted. And when I didn’t, I’d told a member of palace staff and it had usually appeared within hours.

My point was, I’d spent rather frivolously at first, and I may have purchased a house that was a little nicer and bigger than I actually needed. It wasn’t ridiculous by any means, just a decent size with four bedrooms, though the yard was much smaller than I would’ve liked. I suspected its hefty price tag was largely down to the fact that it was somewhat remote. There were neighbours nearby, but I couldn’t see them. Woodland ringed my house, keeping me secluded. It had been the main reason I’d bought it.

I worried, however, that Vince would judge me for it if he saw it. Start thinking of me once again as the spoiled, rich fae he’d despised for so long. At the same time, the thought of him here—in the house that was always empty except for me, and now the demon cat—filled me with sharp longing.

As I brushed my teeth, I texted him back.

Yes, let’s do that. Make him suffer a little.

I was smiling as I walked back into the bedroom to get dressed. I didn’t have to be at work for a few hours—I wasn’t performing today, so it would be an easier day for me—so I put on some linen trousers and a loose-fitting shirt, intent on doing some gardening now that the sun was out.

Just as I was drawing back the curtains, Vince replied.

What’s your address, your highness?

My belly fluttering with excitement, I went to reply, but movement out of the window caught my attention. My house was set quite far back from the road, and the tree-flanked driveway was long and twisty. It looked like something was approaching—I could see flashes of reflected sunlight between the trees.

Then a sleek black car rounded the bend, followed by another, and a third bringing up the rear. The windows were tinted, so I couldn’t see the occupants, but dread began to churn in my stomach.

The three cars parked in a line, taking up my entire driveway. The middle one was positioned directly in front of the porch steps, but no one emerged from it. Instead, in sync, four people climbed out of the front and back cars, two from each.

My stomach dropped to my feet.

They all wore their hair long, tied back into sleek braids, and they were dressed in matching tan linen suits. They were in their human skins, so there were no fangs or pointed ears or wings, but I instantly knew who they were.

Fae.

Guards from the palace.

One of them strode to the middle car and opened the back passenger door, his face blank but his eyes sharp and assessing as he looked around my driveway.